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World Juniors update

Oscar Moller had an assist in Sweden’s 5-0 victory over Russia today but left the game in the second period, apparently with an upper-body injury. There hasn’t been any official word — at least that I’ve heard — of the severity.

Sweden moved to 4-0 with the victory, and the winner of today’s USA-Canada game, which starts momentarily, also will be 4-0. Sweden and the USA-Canada will advance directly to the semifinals, to face the winners of the two quarterfinal games.

Here’s a story from TSN this afternoon about Thomas Hickey, Kings defensive prospect and Team Canada captain:

I haven’t started my DVR yet.
Now I already know it’s 2-0 for the good guys. hee hee.
Rich, you may as well throw up a game thread.
I better go watch the game.
I hope two early goals won’t lead to a let down later in the game.

What a tournament!

JDM

Man, Teubert not clearing the front of the net… was a 5-on-3 tho.

Ok, the American in me is taking over. Screw Canada, watching USA scores is too much fun.

Hickey does look like a great player. I haven’t seen much out of Tube Steak this tournament so far, though he does read the play fairly well.

Get watching EAT!

JDM

wow. Tavares. wow. This game. wow.

So so so glad this tournament is on tv.

Duckhunter

Great first period.

Good comeback by Canada.

I don’t mind the chippyness of Canada, they’re playing with passion, but the next time they cheap shot one of our guys, I better see some dogs being thrown. USA needs to support their teammates.

Matt George

ARG!

What channel is this on guys????

can’t find it

JDM

What an intense game. It’s like watching NHL skill without the NHL composure and professionalism. Pure talent and passion. Ridiculous amount of aggression. Lets see if VanRiemsdyk cam prove he is a real power forward and start throwing his weight and some ‘tude around.

Canada is one hell of a team, but I think Team USA can definately hang with them. I can only hope the rest of the game is this exciting.

Duckhunter

Matt it’s on the NHL channel.

Al

Nothing like letting the Canadian kids get away with anything they want to do. The officiating really sucks, Two U.S. players could have been hurt really bad from being run into from behind and going into the boards head first and the sucker punch thrown by the puke bag #15 and he’s the one who drove the U.S. player into the boards head first also. What an A$$-hole.

JDM

Jesus, can these guys make a save?

Matt, for me (time warner socal) its on 275… I think it’s 400-something on Dish.

Those are some gaping mouths of the US bench!

Matt George

got it!

Duckhunter

Most intense game I’ve seen on any level in a long, long, long time. What a game. I was suppose to be at a party about 45 minutes ago. Looks like I’m going to be a little late:-)

JDM

same here Duckhunter!

This is too sweet to pass up even a minute of. I can’t wait to see how intense the medal rounds get.

Goalies have finally found their footing. Sets up to be an inspiring third period. Hope my boy Schroeder can get it done!

JDM

Well, poor USA loses 7-4 (two empty netters for Canada), but they played a hell of a game.

Too bad it was a back to back for them.

Great game nonetheless!

Off to celebrate (ie: drink). Be safe everyone!

Anonymous

What a game!

Al said:
“Nothing like letting the Canadian kids get away with anything they want to do. The officiating really sucks, Two U.S. players could have been hurt really bad from being run into from behind and going into the boards head first and the sucker punch thrown by the puke bag #15 and he’s the one who drove the U.S. player into the boards head first also. What an A$$-hole.”

Nothing like the officials, both on ice and off, helping their boys back into this game.
I’ve never seen worse officiating in a game.
The “chippiness” of the Canadians was downright disgraceful.
In youth tournaments you’re not supposed to let Canada throw hits after the whistle, attempt to paralyze one of our best defensemen with one of the worst major-boarding hits I’ve ever seen, and let the Canadians taunt the Americans in front of their own bench, then call no penalty for a blood-drawing cheap-shot.
I’ve seen referees overwhelmed by the atmosphere of a home crowd before, but never like this. I wonder if hockey officials are gamblers?

Anonymous

What a game!

Al said:
“Nothing like letting the Canadian kids get away with anything they want to do. The officiating really sucks, Two U.S. players could have been hurt really bad from being run into from behind and going into the boards head first and the sucker punch thrown by the puke bag #15 and he’s the one who drove the U.S. player into the boards head first also. What an A$$-hole.”

Nothing like the officials, both on ice and off, helping their boys back into this game.
I’ve never seen worse officiating in a game.
The “chippiness” of the Canadians was downright disgraceful.
In youth tournaments you’re not supposed to let Canada throw hits after the whistle, attempt to paralyze one of our best defensemen with one of the worst major-boarding hits I’ve ever seen, and let the Canadians taunt the Americans in front of their own bench, then call no penalty for a blood-drawing cheap-shot.
I’ve seen referees overwhelmed by the atmosphere of a home crowd before, but never like this. I wonder if hockey officials are gamblers?

That game and that intensity tonight is what I wish hockey could be like every night.
Its that atmosphere that makes English/World football so amazing.
When I talk about what promotion/relegation brings to a sport that intense atmosphere is a big part of it.
Last night’s game was a classic and every bit as good as the olympic games we’ve seen lately, namely the sweden/russia final of, i think, Torino.
I wrote up a scathing indictment of the officials and the Canadians if you want to read it;

Duckhunter – I thought the Americans showed class by not getting involved in the cheap stuff last night. I though the taunting the Canadians were doing was embarrassing, and I’m not even Canadian. They were obviously intimidated by the Americans and tried to play the usual intimidation game. That’s not supposed to fly in youth tourney’s, though, so it was almost like watching a farce the way the officials handed control of the game over to Pat Quinn and old time hockey. The problem is, when the Americans try to play Canada at that game they actually get called for the penalties.

We’re still in it and I still like our chances and think we can play better. Schroeder was way off form and probably overwhelmed a bit. Canada knows they got lucky, that’s why they were so desperate.

Arron

Wow talk about some whiney posts. Do you guys sound this bad when the Kings lose?

Al

Hey Arron, sounds like you never played the game with an assinine statement like that. Let me run your head into the boards with real intent to injure and only get 2 min. and I’m sure you’ll be the one whining. Learn the game and have a happy new year.

Arron

Al, I have probably played more games before I was 10 than you have in your whole life. Learn the game, ha that was funny.

Do you honestly expect me to believe that the Americans didn’t take any cheap shots at the Canadians? Seriously if you do then I want to look at the world through your rose colored glasses.

Face it the Americans blew a 3-0 lead and the only ones they have to blame for the loss is themselves. Blaming the refs is a pathetic excuse. Maybe if they learned to accept some responibility then they would have won that game, but they didn’t and when they faced some adversity they crumbled. Face it Canada was just the better hockey team in that game. Plain and simple.

Have a happy New Year!

Al

Well, my lil Canadian friend if you are 72 or better then you probably did play more before I was ten, but just to give you a little info, I started skating when I was 4 in Wiarton and if I’m not mistaken that made it about 1940. Played alot of goal in my day and seen alot of stuff happen. I’ve played a few games and against some BIG names. So if you think that sucker punching and hitting someone from behind good clean canadian hockey then I wouldn’t admit it if you are canadian. Industrial league hockey at your best.

Rob

I watched the game to see how our defensemen were doing. Hickey was out there in the last minute when the game still hung in the balance. That tells me that he has more of a defensive side than I thought he did. For part of the third our two defensmen Hickey and Toubert were teamed together – I thought just like they will win LA wins the Cup in 2010 (or 2011).

Being a Kings fan since 1974 (is that really more than 3o years?) I have learned not to get all hyped about prospects. A few such as Jamie Storr, Jared Aulin, Wayne McBean, Craig Redmond, never turned out to be elite players. But to look at this defense now is amazing: in the NHL 3 good young players in Dougherty, Johnson and Quincey. Then playing in the World Juniors we have 2 top level defensmen. Could there be hope for the future?

With elite goalies like Quick and Bernier…am I growing old or are we finally building a team that might compete?

Anonymous

My American friend, and I am glad we can remain friends throughout all of this!

Just because you are older does not make you smarter, just older. Case in point. I never once mentioned that the Canadians played a clean game or a dirty game or anything else like that. Heck I can even admit that there were some dirty plays, hitting from behind is never clean. (BTW one of those hits you refferred to was by Hickey) All I said was the Americans were just as dirty, you may not want to admit it but they were.

Oh, by BIG names you mean a lot of letters right? Do you really think the Industrial league impresses me?

rjc76

GO Canada GO!

EAT THE RICH

Who even cares who won that game?
Some things are more important.
The Americans outplayed the Canadians hands down..
We took your cheap abuse and nearly had the game anyway.
You were able to keep us from playing a hockey game, but there’s more to sports than the score.
I also don’t seem to remember the Americans trying to mock and taunt the Canadians after goals.
Sounds like Canada has some sort of fear that they may not win every matchup, so they resort to just being thugs. Maybe we know where the Bertuzzi’s of the world learn their trade.
I’m most proud of the US coach because he could have taken the path Quinn obviously thinks is acceptable.
Its actually a shame that the world continues to let Canada choose the course for the game of hockey.
Who will stand up and say we don’t want this shit going on anymore?
Why do we continue to allow them to soil the game with unsportsmanlike behavior?
If getting Schroeder off his game by assaulting the US players is good for hockey, I have to wonder what’s the point of trying to play the game?
I’m sure we could train American players to go out and try to paralyze the Canadian stars and win the game with 2 or 3 ejections and a bloodbath.
Canada seems to be awfully afraid of actually playing hockey.
I don’t know why…because they’ve won their share of competitions.

It’s too bad that 98% of America didn’t watch that game and don’t care about supporting their American boys in any sport other than baseball, basketball, or american football.
I guess support-wise hockey rates almost as low, or lower than, soccer.
We shouldn’t be letting our boys go into hostile places with so little support. The American soccer team often plays in downright “terror” situations in South America where the crowds truly HATE Americans – places like Venezuela and Cuba.
Maybe the Canadians are nearly as bad, at least on the ice.
I doubt that the crowd would have turned violent, but in a Jr tournament the teams should not be so disrespectful as to take whatever course will get the win. Canada seems to have no internal barometer when policing themselves. That’s why we continue to see Canadian players disgrace the game: Avery, Bertuzzi, Roy, Heatly.
I suggest Canada reevaluate what really matters when playing sports – sportsmanship.
Otherwise, the world should start to punish them for all the bs they put hockey through.
It’s not CANADA’s sport.

ps – You don’t F with Al. The man obviously knows his stuff and I suspect he may have even been a pro at some point. I totally support him and think that game was bent. And, I hope We meet up with the Canadians again before this tournament is all over.
I’ve got to find out where the ’09 tourney is and see if I can’t make it.
It’s been so long since I went to a King’s playoff game, I can’t remember if they were THAT intense.
That made a Kings game look like the Jr. Tournament.
Despite all the BS, that was an incredible game and I’m still proud of our boys – even the Duck Tangredi, who was awesome.

Tavares

LOL@whining after blowing a 3-0 lead.

The biggest cheap shot in the game came from an American who dangled his stick over the bench into a Canadian players face AFTER the play had long been stopped due to a goal. Funny how you whiners overlook that so easily.

Paul from Oxnard

So it started out being a showcase for Team USA. It ended up turning into the same thing the rest of the tournament is turning into. The John Tavares show.

Would I suck as a Kings fan if I wished for the team to lose the rest of it’s games just to get Tavares in a Kings uniform? Ok. I won’t go that far. But I can’t wait to see this kid in the NHL. The next OV or Sid the Kid. What are they going to call Tavares? The Next Great One?

Anonymous

ETR do you even read what you write?

“Who even cares who won that game?”
I bet you would had it been the Americans that won.

“Some things are more important.”
Like getting the bye and resting some nagging injuries?

“The Americans outplayed the Canadians hands down”
5 on 5 I would actually agree with you.

“You were able to keep us from playing a hockey game”
Then what were you playing?

“I also don’t seem to remember the Americans trying to mock and taunt the Canadians after goals.”
After the Americans second goal one of the US players was taunting the Canadian bench.

“If getting Schroeder off his game by assaulting the US players is good for hockey, I have to wonder what’s the point of trying to play the game?”
So what you are saying is that the Americans are a one trick poney?

“I’m sure we could train American players to go out and try to paralyze the Canadian stars and win the game with 2 or 3 ejections and a bloodbath”
Just like when two American players hit Taveres from behind on the same shift? Or was it when the American player tried to gouge the eye of a Canadian player with his stick?

“It’s too bad that 98% of America didn’t watch that game and don’t care about supporting their American boys in any sport other than baseball, basketball, or american football.
I guess support-wise hockey rates almost as low, or lower than, soccer”
I would agree with that. I wish that a major American network would pick up these games so that this tournament could flourish in the US like it does in Canada. I have actually really enjoyed all the comments about this tourny and how much you guys are enjoying it, the more nations that get behind this tournament the better off it will be. Next to the Olympics this really is one of the better tournaments to watch.

“I suggest Canada reevaluate what really matters when playing sports – sportsmanship.”
Such as when Canada looked like they were grating teeth when they scored against Khasakstan or when Quinn apologized to the Khazaks coach for running up the score because of the way the tournament is organized?

“It’s not CANADA’s sport.”
Then who’s is it? When another nation wins 5 golds in a row and is on the verge of doing it again you can use this arguement.

“You don’t F with Al. The man obviously knows his stuff and I suspect he may have even been a pro at some point.”
I don’t doubt it and he even mentioned he played pro. I was just trying to get him to see things from a different perspective.

“I’ve got to find out where the ’09 tourney is and see if I can’t make it.”
It is in Buffalo and 10′ is in Saskatchewan.

“It’s been so long since I went to a King’s playoff game”
Sadly a lot of Kings fans can say this. Let’s all hope this changes soon.

“Despite all the BS, that was an incredible game and I’m still proud of our boys”
The BS coming from BOTH teams. It was an incredible game, very enjoyable and definately a classic!

Al

Rich, I appreciate you stepping up and your right on in everything you wrote. I was still carrying on about the game today and I even said to my wife, I know Pat (Quinn) and he was a tough D-man and I hate to say it but in Pat’s days they really played it tough, but I don’t ever recall Pat suckering anyone or trying to run their head through the boards, but then again I don’t know what was said in the dressing room. I do recall #15 and their “Superstar”???? laughing when they were going to the dressing room at the end of the first period. I also agree with Duckhunter about the head official cowtowing to Quinn. DH, back in “Old Hockey” players were players and handled their own situations, and I can say that in all the games I’ve seen and played in I’ve never seen another player attempt to hurt another player intentionally except once. But when you see guys like Bertuzzi, Downey and some others do what they do in this day and age you really do wonder when someone will die in Jrs. or the Pros (NHL-AHL). The kid that played 25 seconds for Boston College in his first and last shift, is quadriplegic after being hit from behind and going head first into the boards while his dad was watching. It’s sad that now days the players will do anything for a moment or the big money. Thanks again Rich and have a great New Year.

EAT THE RICH

Anonymous, (or is that Arron)

You know you can sign or attach a name to an anonymous post.
But I’m glad you responded. I have to say, however, y
But if you think that parading your face through a forest of sticks hanging over the boards is the American’s fault, I’d have to wonder what grasp you have of reality.
I have a DVR and it’s clear that during the taunting parade for the second time in a row that that idiot ran his own face directly through a wall of stick blades. Whomever’s stick it was in no way moved it into that fools face. So there’s no support whatsoever for what you are saying. I watched in slo-mo a couple of times. That guys is brainless.
Also, strange the name Della Rovere is absent from your post.

I neither saw or heard of any Americans taunting the Canadian bench after the second goal. If it happened, which I doubt, it is uncalled for. I’m really interested in who you’re saying was taunting. Hayes? I don’t think so, but if you let me know I’ll go back and watch for it.
But, it doesn’t justify Tavares holding his hand to his ear right in front of the American bench. Or the parade they formed after the second goal. Are there no unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties in this tourney? They also tried to pull that on the 3rd goal but the officials actually stopped it (gasp!).

We all know hitting from behind is legal sometimes, it happened throughout the game and happens in every NHL game. But “boarding,” especially with intent to injure (there is too much evidence against Della Rovere in just this game to deny it) is a 5 minute major, and a game misconduct. If you’re a Kings fan you also know that the legal variety got Zeiler a 3 game suspension (again, I guess it’s not OK if it’s American on Canadian).
As for Tavares getting hit from behind, I don’t remember anything out of the ordinary. Some crushing hits, especially on Boychuk and Ruth, but NOTHING like Della Rovere’s.
Funny though, Hickey’s cross-check wasn’t even going to be called by the other official who was about 15 feet away and looking right at it. Nice.

“Some things are more important.”
Like getting the bye and resting some nagging injuries?

No, like playing a sport like it’s a sport.

“Who even cares who won that game?”
I bet you would had it been the Americans that won.

I love to win, but not at any cost. Canada should be ashamed. They’re so afraid of losing and letting down their elders they’ll do anything to win the game. Disgusting.

“You were able to keep us from playing a hockey game”
Then what were you playing?

The Americans were trying to KEEP it a hockey game. Pretty much, they were playing that Game the whole night. They’re never going to win the cheap-shot battle of intimidation as evidenced by how last night’s game was called. Had the Americans played like that they would have finished with at least 2 or 3 ejections. Plus, they know they can beat the Canadians at hockey, so they’re trying to keep it a hockey game.

“If getting Schroeder off his game by assaulting the US players is good for hockey, I have to wonder what’s the point of trying to play the game?”
So what you are saying is that the Americans are a one trick poney?

A one trick pony stuffs in rebounds and scores after a defensman breaks his stick trying to pass out of his own zone. Nice one, but you know how afraid you are of Schroeder playing like he can, which he did not last night.

Such as when Canada looked like they were grating teeth when they scored against Khasakstan or when Quinn apologized to the Khazaks coach for running up the score because of the way the tournament is organized?

Puuhhhlease. What is this, college football? Next you’ll be saying you took it easy on Germany until late, which clearly was not the case. Canada is desperate to believe they’re invincible and fifteen against Khazakstan was just what the doctor ordered.

“It’s not CANADA’s sport.”
Then who’s is it? When another nation wins 5 golds in a row and is on the verge of doing it again you can use this arguement.

I’m sure the Russians, Swedes, Finns and Americans are quite used to this attitude, but only Canadians really believe it. I guess you don’t remember the Soviets. Remember when we won the Gold in ’80 and beat a team you couldn’t even skate with? And even though most of the US doesn’t pay attention because they have other interests like the beach, we own the NHL and you can’t even keep your teams in Winnepeg and Quebec. So I guess America does own the professional ranks.

“Despite all the BS, that was an incredible game and I’m still proud of our boys”
The BS coming from BOTH teams. It was an incredible game, very enjoyable and definately a classic!

Only your boys embarrassed themselves. I hope Ron Rolston continues to keep his focus on the game instead of the nastiness. There’s no place for that stuff in Jr. tournaments. This isn’t ’70′s era NHL, its kids from around the world. That German who checked Espo the other night was a part of the problem. There needs to be more respect for your opponent in hockey but Canada continues to make it more like a war. Natural injuries are bad enough without having guys like Della Rovere out there endangering lives.

Cheers to making an argument for your side and for enjoying the hell out of that game. I just hope we meet again and its about hockey, not thuggery. I have to say, you’re reaching on the stuff blaming Americans for disreputable play. Everybody saw what happened. Unless you were in the building and saw things the camera didn’t pick up I don’t know how you can actually believe that stuff, especially the stick blade across the face. VanReimer didn’t have anything to do with it anyway and was sucker punched in the side of the head, nonetheless. Where were the officials looking then? On Hoeffel’s penalty – he deserved it and it was stupid. That was the worst offense by an American and he got 12 minutes of penalties for it. I guess they really don’t like players hitting in the head, unless it’s after a Canada goal, or your Canadian and you’re driving an Americans head through the boards.
Then it’s ok.

Canadian fans and other world countryman that read this great blog, please don’t put all us US people in the same category as whiners. I too, dislike when people make excuses for not winning. That was the most entertaining and pleasurable game I can remember watching. I was impressed with Canada’s comeback from three down and I was just as impressed with the young Americans coming out in the 2nd matching Canada’s physical play. They both came out and played their souls out. Hockey is a mans sport and there’s going to be some rough stuff going on. I didn’t like the boarding penalty though, that was dangerous and to be honest with you I was disappointed someone didn’t come in and rough that boy up a little, o.k. maybe a lot. You match fire with fire. Anyhow, I was one American who thoroughly enjoyed the game. No whining from me.

EAT THE RICH

Al,

It doesn’t always have to be Jr’s or Pro’s. After my last season playing locally at University, one of the team’s players was paralyzed in a tournament game for UCLA. We don’t need this stuff happening. I think there’s enough natural injuries and blood in the game (Zednik) without the dangerous stuff.
Hopefully this game will have an effect beyond the score and highlight that we need to have better leaders in all levels of hockey, because there should have been intervention on those calls, even if it comes after the game.
I’d like to see Quinn reign his guys in like Rolston did.

BTW – Rolston for Kings coach if Murray doesn’t stick? I like his teams style of puck-possession.

To whomever posted as “Tavares:” That’s a pretty long stick to reach out and get someone in the eye from the bench. Either that or the Canadians were in an area they shouldn’t be in after scoring a goal. And just because some idiot wants to run his face through a forest of sticks doesn’t make it someone else’s fault. Watch the replay.

EAT THE RICH

Duckhunter,

That stuff, as I point out above, has no place in the game, especially in Jrs.
It was a great game and the intensity was amazing, and both teams did play well, and Canada came out on top. But it’s not whining to expect a Jr. game to be played on the ice and by the rules. What went on last night WAS a disgrace and we continue to accept it because the media doesn’t like hockey and Canada has a corner on the market in terms of players and coaching.
But you’d feel differently if it was your kids getting paralyzed and losing a career they worked for all of their lives.
It’s not whining, its disgust.
I’m a Kings fan, and an American. I think I know what losing in hockey is all about and I think I have a pretty decent ability to be objective when I want to be (although I can be a huge homer, too).
It’s unacceptable to say “let the players sort it out.” This game DOES have rules after all (well, at least it’s supposed to).
Did you realize that it was the same player in every incident? Della Rovere? Punches to the head during a stoppage and boarding Shattenkirk and taking runs after the whistle – all in the same period of the game. Two minutes in penalties for all of it…

Duckhunter

It’s o.k. ETR, I just differ in thought here. In the highest levels of competition where adrenaline and country pride are running through your veins, there’s probably going to be a physical aspect to the game. Now, of course, I don’t encourage dirty play and I do encourage playing by the rules, but if the refs are going to let our boys be put in vulnerable positions, and do nothing about it, them it’s our job to let the boys defend themselfs. That young man you’re talking about should have been brought under control one way or another( preferably by the refs or coach). Instead of enjoying one of the best games played in a while, all you can concentrate on is one guy that wasn’t very sportsmanlike. And it is whining, you’re blaming one guy for disgracing the game, you’re blaming one guy from keeping the Americans from playing hockey, you’re blaming Canada for one guy. ETR you are too sensitive.

By the way, if I was worried about my kids getting paralyzed they wouldn’t be playing a sport where that’s very possible. You have to remember I played football for many years and witnessed on many occasions people being taken away in a ambulance. That’s the risk you take when you participate in these contact sports. You don’t wish it on anybody, but it is something that can happen.

Al

Duck Hunter, I thought you were a pretty intelligent hockey fan until you said that some “American fans are whiners”. Evidently you don’t know how to read so let me explain it one more time. I didn’t whine about the US losing and neither did Rich, what I said was the officiating was terrible and the game didn’t need the sucker punches nor the hitting from behind with intent to injure, now if that is whining I’ll kiss your fat a$$ at the Toyota center also anyone that wears a shirt with their “blog handle” on it really has an ego and wants everyone to know who he is. I know who you are. When you answer my blogs, stick to the facts and quit sucking a$$ with the your northern buddies. I played on a team where I was the only American player and the rest were canadian so don’t tell me how it is or was with the attitudes.

Duckhunter

No Al I didn’t say Americans were whiners, I said not all are whiners. And I agree with you that was a dirty hit, and the officiating was bad, but we can’t use that for an excuse, we have to adjust and meet their intensity.

Al, you must be talking about someone else because I don’t have any shirts that have Duckhunter on them or any other piece of clothing. I can tell you quit confidently you don’t know who I am. I don’t quit know how to respond to you Al, because now it went from hockey to threatening. I will say one thing to you, then I’m going to let this go, you would have your hands full with me.

EAT THE RICH

Duckhunter,

At the risk of sounding argumentative, which I don’t want to do on Rich’s blog, I’d like to explain what I’m “feeling.”
I don’t think Al was referring to you at the end of his post. Al thinks some Canadians are calling him a whiner, and they are. But they don’t know anything about Al, or what he’s really saying.
Both Al and I enjoyed the hell out of that game. It was a great one. Controversy and all.
What we’re “whining” about is what Canada is perpetuating in the game. This sport doesn’t belong to them, and on the international stage you have to play by the World’s rules – not Canada’s. The world doesn’t like intimidation and fighting in the game. They like hockey. Physically punishing your opponent can be done within the bounds of the rules, and that’s how the Americans played – with the exception of the Hoeffel penalty which was deserved. What happened last night was that the nation of Canada was able to turn that into a Canadian game because they are stuck in the mindset that it is ok to kick some ass if you’re losing the game. The American’s are not innocent and Jack Johnson was guilty of one of the blatant cheap-shots I’ve ever seen in his WJC game a couple years back. Patrick O’Sullivan also was on a team that showed some disgraceful behavior in a game against Russia around the same time. I think Patrick even took some teeth from a Russian with an “errant” stick to the face that was obviously semi-intentional.
But the team that played under Ron Rolston last night deserves accolades because I didn’t think they played that game. They don’t need to. They have a dominant skating team with tons of size. Canada was on the ropes last night – the USA NEVER was.

In terms of Della Rovere and the entirety of the game, I wonder if you watched as closely as I did. Did you not see Tavares skate to the American bench after his first and cup his hand to his ear? Did you not see the parade past the American bench after the second goal? Did you not see cross-checking of Wilson repeatedly after the whistle? Did you not notice Pat Quinn take the game away from the Officials by disrespectfully waving them off after the second Canada penalty?

Which brings me to the issue of Officials….

They lost control of the game. It’s that simple.
The IIHF needs to do a better job. Those officials were overwhelmed by the size of that game and the intensity of the atmosphere in the building, and that’s simply unacceptable. The fact that there is no inquiry about some of the incidents in that game is also unacceptable. It shows that the IIHF has no authority in their own tournament. Even the NHL would have reviewed that boarding hit and the penalty-box (8 second) incident – not to mention the altercation after Canada’s 2nd. We’re getting what’s best for Canada, not what’s best for hockey. The IIHF needs to get some leadership.

I think the IIHF needs to be in control their tournament, not Canada’s ego. It’s hard to find parallels to describe what I’m talking about, but in sports where the entire world also plays, that bullshit doesn’t fly. But hockey’s tiny stature on the world stage means that nobody was even watching, so nobody will speak up. I wish more people like Al would speak their mind. And I wish America cared to support it’s national Hockey and Soccer teams. They play in some dangerous places and get 1% support. There are no parallels in american sports. I don’t know of any NCAA teams that face hostile crowds in Venezuela or Columbia, nor do they play in a foreign country, even if it’s Canada, where the crowd wants their blood, the other team is in control of the officials, and nobody from their home country is monitoring the situation but me and Al – if I may indulge in an exaggeration.

Cheers Duckhunter.
Remember how pissed you were last night when you posted about the boarding call.
Remember also that this is all fun and games until somebody gets hurt.
And Happy New Year to you,
and everyone else.

Anonymous

Understood ETR. That’s a pretty nice body of work you put together there. You explained your feelings quite well and everything you put together was informative and passionate and I can only respect that.

I saw all the first period(yes I saw some of the taunting), was getting ready during the 2nd but caught the majority of it, and saw about half the 3rd. My blood, ETR, was at heart attack level during that game. I got excited, I got mad, I was having a anxiety attack, it was outstanding. Sometimes my methods of response are not on the executive level. My responses are usually to meet the challenge with more intensity or aggression and that doesn’t always work. That was a nice calming post, thank you and Happy New Year to you too.

Duckhunter

ETR, I just responded to your well thought out post, but I wasn’t signed in, so it will show up later, I’m to tired to do it again. Happy New Years to you too my friend.

Paul from Oxnard

Ok, I’ll say it. Will you 3 KNOCK IT OFF! Sheesh! It’s like listening to a bunch of 6 year olds fight over a candy bar.

Rich, please put an end to arguments like this before they get started. People don’t enjoy reading them.

Anonymous

ETR,
You should get your PVR checked. Mine Clearly shows the americans stick move out in front of his face at the last second(he deserved a penalty). Yes it was blatant boarding by the canadian guy (he deserved a penalty and a misconduct) Also, it was after the americams 2nd goal that they started taunting the canadian bench (have another look at your PVR it’s true)the candians just responded to it, maybe not the best call but they are kids trying to control their emotions.
Yes the penalty box official let the canadian player out early. That type of stuff happens in all leagues of all sports! officials make mistakes all the time. get over it.
You sound like the hockey moms at the rink when something dosn’t go their sons\daughters way.
It was a fantastic game (going to go down as one of the best juniors games of all time) and you are taking away from it by bashing the canadians because they beat your team.

regards

Mike (fan of all things hockey)

Quisp

Well, the US finished its choke. They’re done. Interesting article on the Hockey News website about the embarrassing failures of the US program, the woeful under-performance of its big players when the chips are down, and the general classless sense of entitlement that some people think is the problem with the US program. An insightful read, at least.

Tangredi is the one who speared the kid in the face from the bench. Hayes is the idiot who taunted the Canadian bench right before it all fell apart for them.

Al

Duck Hunter, you’re right I probably would have my hands full with you…. in football…. but let’s say it’d be a draw in hockey….. maybe… :-). The loss to Canada didn’t get me all hot and bothered, it was the 1. Bad hit from behind 2. the sucker punch 3. McKenzie who writes for
TSN (quote) “All the nonsense by the bench, on both sides, whether it be Canada’s Chris DiDomenico getting clipped with a stick or USA’s James van Riemsdyk getting shaken up, that changed the game.” are you believing this guy??? Same guy who said Whatever you thought about Moore’s hit on Naslund, there is no way you could possibly justify what Bertuzzi did to Moore on Monday night. Bertuzzi literally stalked Moore up and down the ice, sucker-punched him in the face and drove his face into the ice. It really was a sickening sight.” Well McKenzie just what in the hell do you think Della Rovere did when he run the U.S. player into the boards head first, he came all the way across the ice and it was Della Rovere who sucker punched Van Riemsdyk from behind just the way Bertuzzi got Moore, except the kid was going off the ice and had no idea he had been targeted. The period ends and Della Rovere and Tavares are laughing on their way back to their dressing room.

Interesting read on how the Ducks “cheated” their way to the Cup and I see a lot of parallels between their style and that of the Canadians the other night.
I’d say in a professional game that’s acceptable, but in international junior tournaments it should not be present.
Canada is going through a crisis of ego, Quisp, not the Americans.
If they’re not top dog in the world of hockey (and they currently are not, that honor goes to sweden in both olympics and [arguably] in the nhl in the form of the wings) they will go to any means to win.
Spearing in the face?
Hayes taunting?
Funny that these things have become that. What you see is not what you see, i guess. Unbelievable.

JDM

I really enjoyed that article EAT, thanks for that.

While I echo many of your sentiments about the Canadians overall brand of hockey vs. the Americans, particularly that the refs cow-towed to Quinn and lost control of the game, I have to agree with Quisp on one point.

I didn’t notice the taunting either way actually, but I did scrutinize the stick to the face from the American bench (Shattenkirk, apparently) after the Canadians second goal, and to me it was clearly intentional.

Yes the Canadians skated by a bad area, but you can see all the American sticks straight up and basically still and then right at the last second the one stick distinctly shoots out in front of the Canadian players face. DellaRoverAsshole, while I understand going after the closest American, was wholly irrational in his response against VanReimsdyk (as he was on several players) and I was shocked not to see penalties called off of all that. Even if they were a lot of matching penalties, that’s better than just standing around with your thumb up your butt like the refs were much of the game.

I did however appreciate hearing McKenzie (not my favorite guy) say on the Russia/Czech telecast that Quinn and the other players have all had talks with DellaRoverAsshole about calming down and being such a, well, rover asshole of a player. I question how much of that is just PR stuff by the Canadian club, but it is encouraging to hear nonetheless. There is no excuse for not sitting DellaRoverAsshole down after a game like that. I wonder if the kid has a media mouth a la Avery to match his on ice nastiness.

Even with all of that, that line he was on was exciting to watch, and effective.

Dammit, I didn’t intend on weighing in so heavily, but I had to say that to me the stick to the face looked totally intentional… even though the replay made me laugh a little.

EAT THE RICH

JDM,

Quinn talking with DellaRovere is like Crawford admonishing Bertuzzi a little, JDM. Quinn was a coach for the Broadstreet Bullies of the late ’70′s and this routine is a team mentality, not one player acting alone.
There were multiple incidents in the game involving DellaRovere, one of them an equally nasty cross-check in Schroeder’s back with about 11 minutes left in the game, it’s shortly followed by the run he took at Blum after the whistle. This all happens just before the commercial break around that same 11:30-left mark.

While I hadn’t noticed Hayes’ taunt before, I DO think it was stupid. But again, it was one player acting alone and the officials, if they saw it, were guilty again of not controlling the game. I can see NOT calling anything on Tavares after his first goal taunt, but the DiDomenico visor-but to Tangredi’s stick blade was all preceeded by the Canadians pushing even the linesman out of the way to line up, en masse, along the American bench. Tangredi, not Shattenkirk, really didn’t move his stick much, and it was in the visor, not the face – but it was an individual doing something stupid, if you think it was stupid. Not a group effort.

Also, consider that Hoeffel, one of the US’s best penalty killers, got not only 2 minutes for his elbow, but that he got a 10 minute misconduct as well. Whatever the case, EVERY replay shows that the linesman saw DellaRovere’s punch to the head, but that blow to the head received nothing.

Signed,
Homer.

JDM

Yes EAT, I’ve said several times that the Canadians were dispicable. I have always hated Pat Quinn. Always. And I never said that the stick to the face of DiDomenico was anything more than one player being an ass, so I don’t know why you are stressing that point, which I don’t disagree with and never said I did.

I thought he moved his stick a fair bit, and like I said, I laughed, because I think in the grand scheme of life the Canadian team deserves a royal roughing up.

From the looks of the game today, I wouldn’t be surpsied to see Russia give it to them.

All of this controversy tho is what makes this tournament great. The fact that these are all boys with world class talent, but boys nonetheless with little to no self control or emotional censors, is what is making this tournament unique for me.

In the NHL, players need to contain themselves the amjority of the time. In the Olympics they are a little nervous and trying to represent their country in more ways than one. But in this tournament, these kids are all just playing their lovable little guts out, even when they are clearly outmatched in size, skill or meanness. In general these players have little to no self control or respect for eachother. They let their emotions get the better of them, and that coupled with incredible talent makes for a really entertaining tournament.

EAT THE RICH

JDM,

Sorry if you thought I was hammering you with the same info over and over. I’m fighting this battle on a number of fronts, not just here. The majority of people are saying the Americans were dirty and that their behavior was dispicable (what a surprise).
I was just trying to stress difference between organized assaults and a player making a bad decision.
After this, I have no doubt that Crawford laid out the order for the attack on Moore. It’s an institutionalized acceptance of thuggery. That stuff should be left to angry mobs, not sports.

I’m just wondering. Do you realize that “fighting” is banned in intl. tournaments like this and that dangerous play (hits to the head) are punished with 10 minute misconducts at the very least?
I just ask because I think that when people are getting nailed like Schroeder and Shattenkirk, sometimes the game becomes second-fiddle to getting out healthy so that you can make a career out of your talents. These Kids ARE NOT getting paid, you know?

Quisp

Uh, Eat, I didn’t say those things. It was an article in the Hockey News (link, above). I did characterize the poke in the face with the blade of the stick as a spear. Call it what you want. In the rule book, it’s a spear. See, if you hit someone with your stick, if it’s the shaft, it’s a slash or a cross-check, if it’s the butt-end, it’s butt-ending, if it’s the end of the blade, it’s a spear. I guess you could call it a slash, if you want. I was just trying to call it what it was.

In any case, those are incidents that were on national TV. The announcers commented on the stick in the face incident. Columnists (like the one linked to) wrote about it. It’s not something I made up.

It’s also not something I care about at all. I am not partial to Team Canada. USA did, however, choke. As they are want to do. You have no obligation to take up opposition to me on every imaginable topic. Give it a rest.

p.s. I expect Canada will win their, whatever it is, fifth straight gold in this tournament. I’m not rooting for them, other than hoping Hickey and Teubert do well.

JDM

EAT,

You know, that game is probably an example of when fighting is a good thing. Had the U.S. been allowed to throw out a guy to drop the gloves with DellaRoverAsshole, the game might have been very different in the abundance of dirty plays, without taking away that physical element that we love and know is effective.

Players start hitting dirty when they aren’t allowed to legally punch each other in the face.

Until you can strip homo sapien of his desire to punch things in the face, you either need fighting in hockey or need to expect dirty plays.

I agree though that Rolston did not coach his team to be thugs, and any dirty play was pretty much individuals acting out, where it was much clearer that Quinn had issued a directive, or at the least, not admonished his players for crossing certain lines.

In retrospect, perhaps Rolston would have been smart to play the game that Quinn brought to the rink. Not a moral victory by any stretch, but who knows how that would have changed the outcome of the game. Maybe the Canadians would have been surprised by the Slovaks and stoned again and again by Janus.

Speaking of which, did you watch the games from today yet? I’m excited to chat about them… though I’m about to leave for a movie, so you won’t be hearing from me until late tonight.

EAT THE RICH

It’s also not something I care about at all. I am not partial to Team Canada. USA did, however, choke. As they are want to do. You have no obligation to take up opposition to me on every imaginable topic. Give it a rest.

The last time I addressed you on this was hours ago.

If you don’t care, why are you categorizing it as a “spear,” Hayes as an “idiot,” and saying that the US has a “classless sense of entitlement?”

That last part is funny.

EAT THE RICH

JDM,

Cheers, have a good night.
I’ll just finish with the idea that “what are officials in the game for?”

And, THN stated that there is a ton of infighting in USAHockey. I don’t know if it’s accurate, but if so, I would imagine Rolston is done and that the US played knowing that he wasn’t backed by those forces who want to play the Canadian way. If you’ve seen any of the other youth tournaments, the USA was much DIRTIER when Sully and JMFJ were playing. I’d expect a bloodbath next time these teams meet if Rolston is outsted. It’s a shame, too, because we had such a talented squad and could have won Gold.
But…we don’t own hockey.
Canada does.

Quisp

I told you why. I’m happy for you to call it a slash. Call it a poke. I don’t give a s***. It was in fact idiotic to taunt the Canada bench; I would offer the rest of the game as evidence. As for the last part (and as I indicated clearly in my comment) I was paraphrasing the HN article, which perhaps you didn’t read but which said that the US program seems to have cultivated a bunch of individual stars who don’t care about playing as a team, and as a result have done nothing but choke the last ten years or so. I can’t really say whether this is true or not, since I haven’t paid any attention to US juniors since, well, since I was that age.

Duckhunter

Big Al, no worries, accepted.

I didn’t see the US game today. What the heck happened? Been busy watching all these great Bowl games. I love this time of year, NFL playoffs, Bowl games, Hockey and WJC. What more can a man ask for?

If I could change one thing in my existence, it would be to play hockey. Grew up in SoCal. where it basically didn’t exist. I’ve played a few games of roller hockey, but have never played a game on ice. I’m too old and beat up now, to try and learn how to ice skate well enough to play. But I really enjoy the game of hockey. Anyhow have a good night.

Who is behind Inside the Kings blog?

Elliott Teaford is an award-winning hockey reporter based in Southern California and witnessed the L.A. Kings win the Stanley Cup in 2012 and in '14. He grew up playing outdoors on the streets of Philadelphia. He also watched the Flyers bully their way to consecutive Stanley Cups in the 1970s, and makes no excuses for their quasi-legal play.

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